Kentucky Lake vs. Barkley Lake

Which is the best lake to fish, Kentucky or Barkley?
What are some of the better places on the lakes?

I definitely get this question a lot. My answer to this
question is "I like to fish whichever lake the fish are biting
on the best that day". This seems like a cop out type of answer
but it isn't really.

One must realize that these are two different lakes fed
by two different river systems. There are enough variables
that many times the fish can be biting on one lake and not
the other, depending on water and weather conditions.

An example of this would be that during the summer on any
given day they are pulling water on Barkley and not on Kentucky
Lake. Obviously the ledge fishing would be better on
Barkley that day or during that period.

Also, the Cumberland River is mostly rock and mud banks
whereas the Tennessee River is mostly rock and pea gravel. This
is why Lake Barkley can become much more heavily stained than
Kentucky Lake following heavy rainfall either in the area or
upriver from the lakes.

There are times when the water temperature differences can
make a big difference in which lake one might want to fish.
Such as in early spring, Barkley normally heats up faster
because it is a shallower lake and the water is more turbid
which makes it absorb heat faster.

Just a few degrees warmer during spring can make a big
difference when fishing for early Bass or Crappie.

Another difference is the amount and type of cover on the two
lakes. Barkley is a much younger lake (1964) and has more
natural cover such as laydowns and stumps than does Kentucky
Lake (1944). This makes it easier to find when there are
more. Many anglers prefer to fish Barkley when the fish
are relating to wood cover.

Overall both lakes have good populations of sought-after game
fish. However, the one exception to this rule is that
there is a much higher population of Smallmouth Bass on Kentucky
Lake than there is on Lake Barkley. This is because
Smallmouth prefer clear deep water and rock and pea gravel.
Kentucky Lake provides all these factors much more so than Lake
Barkley.

Where to fish

Overall, there are no places on the lakes that are better
than others. However, each lake does have areas during
certain times of the year that can provide better fishing
depending on the species one is seeking.

This has to do with fish migrations and available cover in
shallow water, water temperatures, etc. that changes through out
the year. Kentucky and Barkley are big lakes and fishing
on the north ends of the lakes verses 50 miles or more from the
dams can be totally different due to all the factors I have
mentioned.

Here is an example. The bass on south Kentucky Lake and
south Barkley Lake will spawn earlier than the bass on the north
ends of the lakes. This is due to water temperature
variances in the spring. The south ends of the lakes warm
up faster. But when the fish are in pure spawn on the
south ends of the lakes the fish on the north end may still be
in prespawn, which means they are much easier to catch.

So you see, which area one prefers or which lake one
prefers can be based on a lot of factors and can change from one
day or week to the next. Again, I like to fish the lake or
area of a lake that has the best bite on it at that particular
time.

Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Land Between The Lakes offer a unique vacation experience for everyone! Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley collectively is the largest body of water between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. Here you can enjoy fishing, boating, hunting, eating at great restaurants, and experiencing the numerous attractions of the Land Between The Lakes. The region is located just eight hours from Chicago, three hours from St. Louis and six hours west of the
Smoky Mountains.

Eagle's Nest

Photo by Melodie Cunningham

This bald eagle keeps an eye out for it's mate from their nest high in a tree top in Land Between the Lakes. The average eagle's nest is five feet wide!